RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY OF SUPERSONIC JETS OF CO2 - DENSITY, CONDENSATION,AND TRANSLATIONAL, ROTATIONAL, AND VIBRATIONAL TEMPERATURES

The links between translational, rotational, and vibrational temperatu res of supersonic molecular jets, and their density and degree of cond ensation, are discussed in terms of quantitative Raman scattering expe rimental data. Such links are established as the result of energy and momentum conservation laws, and of the collisional regime in the jet. Four representative supersonic expansions of CO2, generated at differe nt stagnation pressures are analyzed, showing the potential of quantit ative Raman spectroscopy for a complete characterization of the jet. ( C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.